Memphis and Shelby County operate under a charter that is determined and created by the electorate. Any city or county, after adopting a contract, may continue to operate under its existing charter, make amendments, or adopt a new charter to provide its governmental or proprietary powers. The charter is basically our city's constitution. It is what governs the elected and appointed officials of the city.

The City Council and the County Commission have, by law, the right to put charter amendments before the voters at any election. In addition, there is a method that the voters can call for changes themselves. On the Nov. 4, 2008 ballot there will amendments that come from both methods.

In 2004, more than 30,000 Memphians, three times more than required by law, felt that it was time to re-evaluate the city charter, so they signed a petition calling for the creation of a City Charter Commission.

The Charter Commission would have 2 years to review the charter and ordinance and formulate recommended changes. Those proposed changes would then be presented to the voters in the form of voter referendum on the ballot of a qualified municipal election. The Charter Commission members are Sharon Webb, Janis Fullilove, Sylvia Cox, Marsha Campbell, George Brown, Willie Brooks, and Myron Lowery.

To contact the commission, go here:

To contact the commissioners individually visit their individual pages:

George Brown Janis Fullilove Marsha Campbell Myron Lowery • Sharon Webb Willie Brooks Sylvia Cox